Machine for clearing out pipe



Dec. 19,1939. v J. o. MAGRVUDER 2,183,618

MACHINE FOR CLEARING OUT PIPE Original Filed Aug. 5, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll 34 Z5 41 20 11v VENTOR,

Jan, QMqyrzaZeE ATTORNEY;

Dec. 19, 1939. Q MAGRUDVER 2,183,618

MACHINE FOR CLEARING OUT PIPE Original FiledAug. 5, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 11v VEN TOR Jbfin aM ayrudez' ATTORNEK Dec. 19, 1939. O MAGRUDER 2,183,618

MACHINE FOR CLEARING OUT PIPE Original Filed Aug. 5, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w r 4 Q g 1;; w m 15 I 1 yyzfl Ill I v E 7 n INVENTOR.

0. Mgyrudev;

11 2 BY wm/ ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 19, 193.)

UNiiED s'rAr Z ATENT OFFlCE Application August 5, 1936, Serial No. 94,325 Renewed May 5, 1939 2 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for removing obstructions from and cleaning out pipe, such as underground cable ducts, water pipe, sewer pipe and the like, and is an improvement on my 5' Sewer cleaning apparatus disclosed in my application for United States Letters Patent, filed July 24:, 1935, Serial No. 32,881

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of the character stated,

10 by means or" which a suitable tool may be introduced through and withdrawn from a pipe, and rotated while within the pipe, for clearing obstructions from and cleaning out the pipe.

A more particular object is to provide improved 16 transmission and control m chanism for operating the machine.

Another object is to provide a novel transmission and control mechanism by means of which the machine may be effectively operated by a gas 20 engine.

Another object is to provide a novel transmission and control mechanism for effecting a wide variation in speed of the machine.

A further object is to provide improved means 25: for preventing the wire, to which the working tool of the machine is connected, from flying off the reel, on which said wire is wound, under the influence of centrifugal force when said reel is rotated rapidly about its dianietrical axis, for

30 rotating said tool within a pipe, for clearing obstructions from and cleaning out the pipe.

A further object is to provide novel means for preventing rotation of the reel upon its diametrical axis and consequent rotation of the and 35 tool, during rotation of the reel on its transverse axis, and particularly during rotation of the reel for winding the wire thereon and withdrawing the wire and tool from the pipe after clearing the pipe.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which,

45 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my invention, driven by a gas engine and mounted on a truck, shown partly in section to illustrate certain features of construction.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of my inven- 50 tion showing the gas engine for driving the same and the control means for said engine.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of the reel, on which the worlnng tool wire is wound, and the parts associated with said reel.

55' Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of

one of the brakes of the gas-engine control mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the operatmeans for the reel direction clutches.

Fig. 6 an elevation, partly in section, of the 5 shift mech ism for the shi table friction discs of the variable speed transmission.

Fi 7 is a cross section of the wire reel taken on line E.' of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal horizontal section of 10 the variable speed transmission.

9 isa rear elevation of the variable speed transmission.

Fig. is a side elevation of another form of my invention to be held in the hand of the operator when operated, and which is electrically driven.

. i1 is a front end elevation of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is transverse vertical section of the wh'e reel, of my invention, as illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, taken on line i3l 3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the wire reel shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the drive mechanism taken on line i5-l5 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 16 is a View, partly in section and partly in elevation of the wire fastener for fastening the inner end of the wire wound in the reel. 39

Referring more particularly to the drawings, my invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, comprises generally a truck. l a reel 2 operatively mounted on said truck, a wire 3 wound on said reel, a clear tool connected to the foward end of said wire, a gas engine 5 mounted on the forward end of said truck 2 a transmission mechanism 5 mounted on said truck comprising a variable speed transmission l, for enabling the gas engine 5 to rotate the r el 2 on its normal 40 transverse axis to wind the wire 3 thereon or to unwind said wire -rom said reel, and a rotary transmission 3 for enabling the gas engine 5 to rotate the reel 2 on a dianietrical axis to rotate the wire 3 and tool 4 on their longitudinal axes; said transmission mechanism E including a control means 8; said variable speed transmission including a control means id; and said rotary transmis ion including a control means i l.

The truck I comprises a frame l2, a pair of front wheels l3, on which the front end of said frame is mounted, and a steering wheel [4 on which the rear end of said frame is mounted, said steering wheel being journaled in the lower end of a steering post I5, which is journaled in a 5 vertical bearing it on the rear end of the frame l2, there being a handle bar I? connected by means of links l8, to the journals IQ of the steering Wheel E i, for pulling or pushing the truck. A front reel frame bearing 25 is mounted on a standard 2| on the front end of the truck frame l2, and a rear reel frame bearing 22 is mounted on the upper end of the steering post bearing iii.

The reel 2 is journaled in a rotary reel frame 23, on its normal transverse axis, by means of a transverse shaft 24, secured at its ends in the frame side members 25, by nuts 26, which journal extends through the hub 21 of the reel. The front end frame member 28 is formed with a trunnion 29, which extends through the front reel frame bearing 20 on the truck I, and the rear end frame member 35 is formed with a trunnion 3| which extends through and is journaled in the rear reel frame bearing 22 on said truck, which bearings and trunnions are arranged on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the truck and diametrically of the reel 2, and intersecting the transverse axis of the reel and its journal 2 The front reel frame trunnion 29 is formed with a longitudinal or axial bore32 through which the wire 3 extends.

The reel 2 comprises the hub 21, a rim 33, spokes 5% connecting said hub and said rim, and a pair of annular side rim members 35 which are bolted to the side edges of the rim 33 by bolts 36, the outer edges of said side rim members being spaced apart and forming a space 3? therebetween, in which space isloosely fitted an annular guard 38, which is formed at its forward side with a guide 35 having a conduit 413, which extends at a tangent from the reel 2 and forwardly to the rear end of the bore 32 in the forward trunnion 29 of the reel frame 23, through which conduit the wire 3 extends from the reel. From the forward end of said conduit the wire extends through the trunnion bore 32. The forward end of the guide 39 is formed with ears 5| which are bolted, by bolts 42, to ears 33 on the inner side of the front member 28 of the reel frame 23, while the guard 38 is formed at its rear side with flanges 25 which are bolted to the rear end member 3|] of the reel frame, whereby the guard 38 and guide 55 are maintained in position with relation to the reel 2, l

The variable speed transmission i will now be described. The crank shaft 5|] of the gas engine 5 extends transversely of the truck and is journaled in bearings 5| and 52 on the truck frame l2, there being a conventional fly wheel 53 secured on said crank shaft adjacent said engine 5. On the engine crank shaft 55 are turnably fitted a pair of sleeves 5d and 55, and on the adjacent inner ends of said sleeves are secured bevel gears 55 and 5? in mesh with a bevel gear 58, which is secured on the rear end of a transmission shaft 55 extending longitudinally of the truck I and journaled in bearings (ill and 6| on the truck frame l2. A pair of friction discs 52 and 63 are splined on the sleeves 5d and 55 respectively, by splines 62 and 55, which discs frictionally engage at their peripheries the rear side of a larger friction disc 66 which is'splined by a spline 66 on the rear end of a sleeve 51 turnably fitted on the transmission shaft 59. On the forward end of the sleeve 87' is secured a sprocket 5B. A spring 69 surrounds the-sleeve 5'! with its ends bearing against the hubs of the friction disc 66 and sprocket 58 respectively, whereby the disc 66 is maintained in frictional contact with the periphcries of the discs 62 and 53. On the shaft '59 is secured a collar 59, by means of a set screw 10, at the forward ends of the sleeve 5'! and hub of the sprocket 53. Journaled in and extending through the forward reel frame bearing 25 is a sleeve H, through which sleeve extends the forward reel frame trunnion 29, and in which sleeve said trunnion is journaled. On the forward end of the sleeve "fl is secured a sprocket l2, and a chain it extends over said sprocket and the sprocket 68. A pinion M is secured on the rear end of the sleeve 7| in mesh with a gear 15 secured on the forward end of a reel transmission shaft it, which is journaled at its forward end in the front reel frame member 28 and at its rear end in a bearing H on a side member 25 of the reel frame 23. On the rear end of said reel transmission shaft 76 is secured a bevel pinion '18 in mesh with a bevel gear l5 secured on one side of the hub 27 of the reel 2. Clutches and 8| are provided for clutching the sleeves 5 3 and 55 respectively to the engine crank shaft 59. The clutch 85 comprises a female clutch member 82, secured on the outer end of the sleeve 55, and a male clutch member 83, splined on the engine crank shaft 5|] by a spl'me 84, which male member is formed with an external annular groove 85. The clutch 8| comprises a female member 85, secured on the outer end of the sleeve 55, and a male member 8'! splined on the engine crank shaft 55, by a spline 88, which male member is formed with an annular external groove 89.

The control means 9 of the transmission mechanism 5 (Figs. 2 and 5) comprises a slide bar 90, slidably mounted in bearings 9| and $32 on the truck frame 12; a pair of arms 53 and 94 extending from said slide bar and engaging the grooves 85 and 89 respectively of the clutches 8i and 8|; a control lever 95, pivoted at 95 to a plate 91, secured to one of the truck frame standards 2|, and connected at its lower end at 98 to the outer end of slide bar and a locking device 99 for locking the lever in different positions. Said locking device 99 comprises a rod I55 slidably mounted longitudinally to the lever 95 in bearings NH and 52 on said lever; a latch I53 on the lower end of said rod M5 for engaging notches Hi l in the lower edge of plate 91; a collar I05 secured on the rod H35 above'the bearing W i; and a spring H76 surrounding said rod between said bearing and said collar for holding said latch I03 in one of said notches N34.

The control means H! of the variable speed transmission 7 comprises a rod Hi! secured at its ends in brackets I08 and M9 on the truck frame i2; a pair of sleeves Hi1 and Hi slid'able on said rod; arms H2 and H3 extending respectively from said sleeves and engaging annular grooves lid and H5 in the hubs of the friction discs 52 and 53 respectively; a control lever H6 pivotably mounted at ill on the bracket I59; a link H8 connected at one end to the lower end of said lever at H9 and at its other end to the sleeve l 55 at 525; a link |2| connected at one end to the lever H5 above its pivot H! at I22 and at its other end to the sleeve H at H3; and a locking device E24 for locking said lever H5 in different positions. Said locking device I24 comprises a slide bolt |25 mounted on the lever H6; a notched segment I26 mounted on the bracket I09 and provided with notches l2? to receive the bolt E25 for locking said lever in different positions; a

hand grip I28 pivoted to the lever 6 near the upper end thereof; and a link |29 connecting said hand grip and said bolt I25.

The rotary transmission 8 (Fig. 8) includes a sprocket I loosely mounted on the shaft 59 forwardly of the collar 69; a clutch I3I for clutching said sprocket to said shaft; a sprocket I32 secured on the forward end of the front reel frame trunnion 29; and a chan I33 extending over said sprockets I30 and I32. The clutch I3I comprises a female member I34 formed in the hub of the sprocket I30; a male member I35 splined on the shaft 59 by a spline I36 and formed in its hub with an annular groove I 31; and a spring I38 surrounding said shaft 59 and bearing at its ends respectively against the hub of said male clutch member I35 and the front bearing 6| for normally holding said male clutch member in clutching engagement with said female clutch member I34 and thereby clutching the sprocket I38 to the shaft 59.

The control means II (Fig. 4) for the rotary transmission 8 comprises a control lever I40 and a brake I4I for the sprocket I30. The lever I40 is pivoted to the truck frame I2, at I42, and engages the groove I3I in the hub of the male member I35 of the clutch I3I. The brake I4I comprises a brake drum I43 formed on the hub of the sprocket I30; a brake band I44 extending over said drum; a brake lever I45 pivoted to the truck frame at I46; and a locking device I41 for said lever; said brake band I44 being connected at its ends to said lever I45 at opposite sides of its pivot I46 at I48 and I49 respectively. The locking device I41 comprises a pawl I50 secured to the truck frame I2; a ratchet I5I pivoted at its upper end to the control lever I45 at I52; a spring I53 connected to the lower end of said ratchet and to the truck frame I2 for holding said ratchet in engagement with said pawl I50; a hand grip I 54 pivoted to the lever I45 near the upper end thereof; and a link I55 connected at its ends to said ratchet I5I and said hand grip I54 respectively.

The operation, uses and advantages of my invention, as above described are as follows:

The truck I is first rolled into position with the tool 4 at one end of a pipe to be cleared out. The gas engine 5 is started, rotating the crank shaft 50. The clutch 80 is thrown into operation and the clutch 8| out of operation by the control means 9, whereupon the sleeve 54, disc 82 and bevel gear 56 are rotated and the disc 66, sleeve 61 and sprocket 68 are rotated, by the engagement of the disc 62 with disc 66, while the bevel gear 58, shaft 59 and sprocket I30 are rotated by the meshing of bevel gear 56 with bevel gear 58, said sprocket I 30 being clutched to the shaft 59 by clutch I 3| under the influence of spring I38. Rotation of the sprocket 68 causes the reel 2 to be rotated clockwise (Fig. 1) through the medium of chain I3, sprocket I2, sleeve 1T, pinion I4, gear I5, shaft I6, bevel pinion I8 and bevel gear I9, which rotation of the reel unwinds the Wire 3 therefrom and pays out the wire through the guide conduit 40 and trunnion bore 32, whereupon the tool 4 is introduced by the wire 3 into the pipe to be cleared. As the tool 4 is introduced through the pipe said tool is rotated by rotation of the reel 2, wire 3, and guard 38 and guide 39 on the trunnions 29 and 3I, through the medium of sprocket I30, chain I33, sprocket I32, and trunnion 29, the sprocket I30 being clutched to the shaft 59 by clutch I4I under the influence of clutch spring I38.

The speed of rotation of the reel 2 on its shaft 24, and on its trunnions 29 and 3 I, to advance or withdraw the wire 3 and tool 4, and to rotate the wire and tool, may be varied by the control means I 0. By swinging the lever II6 (Fig. 6) to the right the discs 62 and 63 are moved toward each other, and by swinging said lever to the left said discs are moved away from each other, and maintained at all times equidistant from the center of the disc 66, through the medium of links H8 and I2I, sleeves H0 and III, and the arms H2 and H3, engaging the disc grooves H4 and H5, respectively. When the discs 6:? and 63 are moved towards each other from their neutral position shown in Fig. 8, the speed of rotation of the disc 66 and sleeve 61 is increased with relation to the engine shaft 50, and the speed of rotation of the reel 2 on its shaft 24, together with the speed of advancement of the wire 3 from the reel are correspondingly increased, through the medium of the transmission mechanism between the sleeve 61 and the reel. Conversely, when the discs 62 and 63 are moved away from each other, from their neutral position shown in Fig. 8, the speed of rotation of the disc 66, sleeve 61 and sprocket 68, together with the sprocket I2, sleeve II and pinion I4, is decreased, while the speed of rotation of the reel frame 23 remains the same, and the pinion I4, instead of rotating the gear I5 resists rotation of said gear and reverses its direction of rotation, which, through shaft I6, beveled pinion I8 and beveled gear 79, reversed the rotation of the reel 2 and causes the reel to wind the wire 3 thereon and withdraw the wire and tool 4 from the pipe which is being cleared by the tool.

When it is desired to wind the wire 3 on the reel 2 to withdraw the wire and the tool 4 from a pipe, after clearing the pipe, the clutch 80 may be thrown out of operation and the clutch 8I is thrown into operation by the control means 9, whereupon the sleeve 55, disc 63 and bevel gear 51 are rotated, and the disc 66, sleeve 6! and sprocket 68 are rotated by the engagement of the disc 63 with the disc 66, while the bevel gear 58, shaft 59 and sprocket I30 are rotated by the meshing of bevel gear 51' with bevel gear 58, said sprocket I30 being clutched to the shaft 59 by the clutch I3I under the influence of the spring I38. Rotation of sprocket 68 causes the reel 2 to be rotated counterclockwise (Fig. 1), through the medium of chain I3, sprocket I2, sleeve II, pinion I4, gear I5, shaft I6, bevel pinion I8 and bevel gear I9, which rotation of the reel winds the wire 3 thereupon and withdraws the wire and the tool 4 from the pipe. Rotation of sprocket I30 causes the reel 2 to be rotated on its trunnions 29 and 3I in the opposite direction to that above set forth and the wire 3 and tool 4 to be likewise rotated, while being withdrawn from the pipe, through the medium of chain I33, sprocket I32 and trunnion 29, the sprocket I38 being clutched to the shaft 59 by the clutch I4I under the influence of spring I38. Since the reel may be rotated in either direction by shifting the discs 62 and 63 in or out, it is only necessary to use the clutch BI to reverse the rotation of the wire and tool.

While the reel 2 is rotated counterclockwise, as above described, and the wire 2 and tool 4 are withdrawn from the pipe, rotation of the reel on its trunnions 29 and 3 I, together with the wire 3 and tool 4, may be prevented by operation of the control means II. Said control means is operated for said purpose by swinging the lever I40 counterclockwise (Fig. 2) and disengaging the clutch I3I, and by swinging the brake lever I45 counterclockwise and applying the brake band I44 to the brake drum I43, the ratchet I5I escaping the pawl I50, until the brake is applied, and the pawl engaging the ratchet, when the brake is applied and holding the brake applied.

The modified form of my invention, illustrated in Figs. to 16 inclusive, is a hand machine, or a machine which is held in the hand of the operator during its operation. The construction of this form of my invention is like that shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, except that a handsupported frame I66 is substituted for the truck I, an electric motor I6! is substituted for the gas engine 5, a transmission mechanism I52 is substituted for the transmission mechanism 6, a variable speed transmission I63 forming part of said transmission mechanism is substituted for the variable speed transmission I, a rotary transmission IE I, also forming part of the transmission mechanism I62, is substituted for the rotary transmission 8, a control switch I65 for the motor I6! is substituted for the control means 9, and a variable speed control means ltd is substituted for the variable speed control means I Ill.

The frame I69 is formed with a depending handle Itl in the upper end of which is mounted the switch IE5, the electric wiring N58 for the motor ItI extending through said handle to said switch and from said switch to the motor I 6!.

.- The variable speed transmission I63 comprises a friction disc I69, splined on the motor shaft Ilfi by a spline III, a friction disc I12 secured on the forward end of the sleeve II in frictional contact with said disc I139, a ring I73 turnably fitted in the hub of the disc I69 and formed with outwardly projecting pins I'M, a shaft I115 journaled in the frame I'Gll, a pair of forked arms I'Ifi secured on said shaft I75 and engaging said pins I'M, an operating handle I'I'I secured on said shaft H5, and a locking device N18 for said handle, which locking device comprises a segmental ratchet I19 secured on the frame I69 and a hand-grip pawl I 88 pivoted on the outer portion of said handle for engaging said ratchet. The rotary transmission I64 comprises a bevel gear I8I, secured on the upper end of the motor shaft I18, and a bevel gear I82 secured on the forward end of theforward reel trunnion 29 in mesh with said bevel gear IBI. In the construction of the'reel 2 the rim 33 and bolts 36 may be eliminated and the side members 35 brought together at I83 and bolted by bolts I84.

In 16 is illustrated the wire fastener I85 for fastening the inner end of the wire 3 to the reel, for winding the wire on the reel, which fastener comprises a stud I86, provided with a wire opening I8? through its inner end, and a thread I88 extending from its outer end, a washer I89 and a nut I90. The inner end of said stud is extended through an opening I9! in one side member 35 of the reel 2 and the inner end of the wire 3 is extended through the stud opening I 81, while the washer I88 is fitted on the stud against the outside of said reel member and the nut I89 is screwed on the stud thread I88 against said washer until the wire 3 in said stud opening I81 is clamped by the stud IB'B against the inner side of the Wall of said reel side member 35.

In operation this form of my invention is held in the hand of the operator by the handle I61 and the switch I65 is operated by the operators hand to run or stop the motor IISI. The variable speed transmission IE3 is controlled by the control means I66. By swinging the arm II'I to the right or left the disc N59 is shifted up or down with relation to the disc H2 to increase or decrease the speed of the disc I I2 with relation to the speed of the motor shaft I'll), whereby the speed of rotation of the reel. 2 on its shaft 24 is increased or decreased through the medium of sleeve II, pinion l4, gear I5, shaft It, beveled pinion II and beveled gear I9.

I claim:

1. In a machine as disclosed, a transmission shaft, a transmission sleeve journaled on said transmission shaft, a friction disc secured on one end of said sleeve, a drive shaft, a pair of sleeves journaled on said drive shaft, beveled pinions secured on the inner ends of said sleeves respectively, a beveled pinion secured on said transmission shaft in mesh with said beveled pinions on said sleeves, clutches for clutching said sleeves respectively to said drive shaft, a pair of friction discs splined on said sleeves respectively in frictional contact with said friction disc on said transmission sleeve, at opposite sides of and equidistantly from the center of said latter disc, and means for shifting said pair of discs equidistantly toward or away from the center of said transmission sleeve disc, for varying the speed of rotation of said transmission sleeve with relation to said drive shaft.

2. In a machine as disclosed, a transmission shaft, a transmission sleeve journaled on said transmission shaft, a friction disc secured on one end of said sleeve, a drive shaft, a pair of sleeves journaled on said drive shaft, beveled pinions secured on the inner ends of said sleeves respectively, a beveled pinion secured on said transmission shaft in mesh with said beveled pinions on said sleeves, clutches for clutching said sleeves respectively to said drive shaft, a pair of friction discs splined on said sleeves respectively in frictional contact with said friction disc on said transmission sleeve, at opposite sides of and equidistantly from the center of said latter disc, means for shifting said pair of discs eq distantly toward or away from the center of said transmission sleeve disc, for varying the speed of rotation of said transmission sleeve with relation to said drive shaft, a sprocket turnably fitted on said transmission shaft, a clutch for clutching said sprocket to said transmission shaft, and a brake for said sprocket to prevent rotation thereof, when said clutch is disengaged from said transmission shaft.

JOHN O. MAGRUDER. 

